Don't miss

Welcome to the Itinerary Planner. Use this tool to build your own journey or choose from an exciting range of specially selected tours.

To build your own Itinerary, click to add an item to your Itinerary basket.

You are here > Member's Area > Extra GWR train capacity for South West

Extra GWR train capacity for South West

29th March 2018

Categories: Business News

Adding to a fleet of new Intercity Express Trains due into service this Summer, GWR have announced a scheme to modernise High Speed Trains (HSTs) to provide even more additional seats and services.

Work is already underway to convert former eight carriage HSTs (8+2) to four carriage (4+2) Class 43 Castle trains, to operate services between Exeter and Penzance, which will help double the frequency of services on the Cornish main line.
The work will see the sets made more accessible and modernised; decade-old slam doors will be replaced with modern, automated, sliding doors; toilet retention tanks fitted and an improved passenger information system fitted.

GWR Commercial Development Director Matthew Golton said:
“These trains will replace smaller, less powerful trains on this part of the network; doubling the number of seats as part of our commitment to improving rolling stock across every part of our network.

“They will work alongside the new Intercity Express Trains due this summer; helping us to double the frequency of services to and from the South West and improve capacity on suburban commuter services.”

48 passenger carriages and 24 power cars are being updated, to make 11 sets, with four spare, as part of a wider national programme to modernise the High-Speed Train.

With all modifications complete, the trains will also be extended to serve the route from Penzance to Cardiff, and to bolster peak time services between Gloucester and Taunton. The Class 43 Castle trains will be maintained at GWR’s depot at Laira, Plymouth.